This is a stunning mid century plate / bowl / dish in the ‘Venezia’ decor by Walther Conradt for Gebruder Conradt, West Germany circa 1950’s, form no. ’15/2′.

A fantastic design, a shallow bowl / plate with a sloping sides and a rough ovoid shape. With a very graphic decor ‘Venezia’ that is so reminiscent of the 1950’s era. A glossy black base is hand decorated with deep incised lines and filled in with vivid glossy colours in red, yellow and turquoise, geometric, abstract and reflecting trends in Modern art and design in the 1950’s. The underneath is also glossily glazed in turquoise blue.

A wonderful rare piece by this smaller lesser known art pottery.

Perfect as a decorative display piece, as part of a grouping or to use on a desk, coffee / side table, sideboard or mantelpiece as a trinket / jewellery / pin dish, desk tidy, paperweight etc.

Would make a great addition to any collection of West German / studio / art pottery and would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, modernist, minimalist or contemporary styled interior.

In great condition, no chips or cracks, there is some wear and light scratches to the glossy glazes in the bowl, and a couple of flakes of missing glaze on the rim, reflected in the price, and still displays well.

The decor is by the renowned Swiss artist and designer Hans Theo Baumann who designed for Rosenthal from 1954 until the 1970’s.
The body is semi matte black to the exterior and glossy white inside, circular with deep straight sides. The lid is beautifully soft and rounded, also in glossy white with an intricate abstract / modernist / architectural graphic motif. Resembling a pen line drawing filled in with beige, yellow and green tones.

Very stylish and so reminiscent of the era, stunning high quality from this esteemed German company. Perfect for a myriad of uses on a dressing table or desk, sideboard or table.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of Rosenthal / German or European pottery, and would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, minimal or contemporary interior.

Measures 14 x 14 x 5.5cm / 5.5 x 5.5 x 2.25in.

Fully marked to the base, with the Rosenthal and Studio Linie logos, artists signature and the form / decor number.

In Great Condition, no chips or cracks, a little light wear to the black glaze commensurate with age, nothing to detract on display. Also some very small scratches in the motif on the top, very hard to notice and also do not detract on display.

This is a Stunning and Rare Marcello Fantoni miniature bowl, made in Italy circa 1950’s.

A Wonderful design, with an archaic look, influenced by Etruscan / Ancient Roman pottery, and modern art, Cubism and abstraction. A Lovely curved biomorphic form, more a sculptural piece than a practical bowl or dish.

Fantastic glazes, a vibrant glossy aquamarine blue, a red and black bubbling enamel like glaze, a painterly daub of yellows, and a matte lilac glaze. All tied together with a sgraffito (scratched) cubist pattern resembling an abstract bird.

Marcello Fantoni was one of the greatest ceramicists and designers of the 20th century, his pieces were influenced by ancient Etruscan ceramics, and by contemporary modern artists of the mid century era. Incorporating elements of Modernism / Cubism and Abstraction, this led to his pieces being included in collections of international Modern Art museums and galleries.

This bears a handpainted mark to the base ‘Fantoni Italy, with the ‘Duomo’ symbol based on Florence’s Cathedral’s dome.

A Great addition to any collection of Fantoni / Raymor / Italian / European art pottery or 20th century design. Would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, modernist, 1950’s, 1960’s, minimalist or contemporary interior.

In Excellent Condition, no chips or scratches to the pottery, some age related wear to the the base, nothing to detract.

These are a wonderful trio of early plastic / bakelite small dishes, made in England circa 1930’s.

The conical one is in a mottled dark red / brown, lovely flared shape with deep bowl in the top, marked to the base ‘use Carlton custard powder’. The shallow wide bowl is black on the outside and the same mottled dark red / brown inside, advertising ‘The Tricity Demonstration Home’ on the base. The deeper bowl has a squared rim, and is made of a ‘Camo’ style plastic in olive green, red / brown and black. Marked to the base ‘Belplastic Ltd British Made’.

Fantastic mini collection that would look great on display, or for use on a desk, table, kitchen, as pin / condiment dishes, desk tidy / paperweights etc.

A Lovely set that are so reminiscent of the era and perfectly exemplify the use of new materials and Art Deco / Modernist design during the 1930’s.

Perfect as an addition to any collection of Bakelite / early plastic / Art Deco design pieces. Would look fantastic in any retro, vintage, 1930’s, 1940’s, modernist, minimal or contemporary space.

In Excellent Vintage Condition, the wide bowl has a liitle nibble to the rim and some crazing, the other two pieces are almost perfect, nothing to detract.

Theses designs are typical of the ouput of the potteries in and around Florence during the mid century era, the sgraffito and highly coloured and glazed motifs resembling Marcello Fantoni’s work. All leather backed, and their small size and novelty value made them popular gifts and souvenirs and were widely exported. The pipe rest is a rare and unusual piece with its sloping curved form, the smallest bowl is signed ‘Coccio.

The ‘Textured’ range designed by Geoffrey Baxter for Whitefriars Glass in 1967 is a design classic of the 20th century. This beautiful cinnamon coloured bowl could be paired up with an iconic ‘coffin’ or ‘banjo’ vase to stunning effect.

Whilst the current trend for vintage West German pottery is almost exclusively aimed at the ‘Fat Lava’ genre and the factories that produced outlandish designs, some great designs can be found from unexpected makers. Such as this lovely Hedgehog dish from Goebel Porzellan, known predominantly for their Hummel figurines! This is a very stylish Mid-century animal figure that would quite happily sit alongside its ‘Fat Lava’ contemporaries in a collection, and would complement the similarly styled Walter Bosse brass figures.